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As it happenedended

Wales vs England result: Hosts win to move top of world rankings ahead of Rugby World Cup

The two met in a Rugby World Cup warm-up clash in Cardiff

Jack de Menezes
Principality Stadium
Saturday 17 August 2019 13:15 EDT
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Wales went top of rugby union's world rankings for the first time after beating England 13-6 in Cardiff.

Wales' rise to the summit, which ended New Zealand's unbroken 10-year occupation, comes just 34 days before the World Cup kicks off in Japan.

It was an impressive warm-up performance for the tournament as they reeled off an 11th successive home win, with George North's first-half try ultimately proving the difference as Wales took full advantage of Anthony Watson's yellow card to make the most of England's lapse in concentration to score.

The rest of Wales's points came from the combined boots of Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny, while England could only must two penalties in response to suffer defeat six days after beating Wales. Re-live the action below.

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2 mins: England get through the kick-off well and clear the lines, and from the resulting lineout, Biggar puts a high one up to test out Daly. He's good to the threat and takes the mark inside the 22, and a minute later he's forced to do the same, but both times Biggar has put a bit too much on it and Wales haven't been able to challenge.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 14:19

4 mins: Watson bites in to try and press the Welsh attack, but he gets it wrong and Alun Wyn Jones breaks away. Watson gets back to make the tackle, but again Wales spread right wide and Wainwright bumps Joseph off strongly. Biggar launches a long flat pass out wide, but eventually the ball is knocked on and Daly kicks the ball deep. Biggar retreats back and finds touch just short of the halfway line.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 14:21

6 mins: Wales pick off Cowan-Dickie's first lineout and Biggar again sends it deep for England to play their way out of the 22. They try to go down the blindside, but they do so with a knock-on advantage and we'll come back for the scrum.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 14:22

8 mins: England get a mighty shove on Wales in the scrum and the loosehead side collapses in, with players piling in on top of each other as England get the penalty. Unsurprisingly it all flares up between the packs for the first time, but there wasn't a lot in that and referee Pascal Gauzere will just have a word with Tomas Francis there, having exchanged a few words with Ellis Genge once again.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 14:25

10 mins: England try to outsmart the Welsh defence as they rush towards it, only for Ford to chip ahead and Cokanasiga chasing hard. It's a foot race between him and Adams, but while he's able to get the ball first it's only to carry it into touch. Wales cseal the lineout and Parkes nearly breaks through the line to give them breathing space before Gareth Davies kicks clear.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 14:27

11 mins: Francis gets caught isolated and Wales pile into the ruck, winning the holding-on penalty in the process. Parkes made the hit before James Davies managed to get over the ball and win the penalty.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 14:28

12 mins: The penalty draws another penalty as Genge deliberately knocks the ball on as he goes to tackle Owens, and Wales turn down the kick at goal to go for the corner.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 14:29

15 mins: Wales are going through the phases but there's no budging what is a stiff English defence. As we tick into the 14th phase, England manage to turn the ball over and Daly tries to kick clear, only for Alun Wyn Jones to charge it down. The ball falls kindly for Cokanasiga and he runs it up to get England going forwards.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 14:31

16 mins: Genge and Ludlam combine neatly to move possession up towards halfway before Ford kicks straight to Halfpenny. Wales return the favour, and when Ford puts up yet another high tester, Halfpenny comes up with the error. He drops the ball and Watson is there to snaffle the opportunity, giving England posession on the Welsh 22. But when they attempt to work a crioss-field chance for Daly, the full-back can only watch the ball sail into touch as Ford has overcooked it.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 14:33

19 mins: After a little pause for numerous players to receive treatment, Davies clears the lineout and North and Watson both go up for it. It spills loose and into touch, and the assistant referee Mathieu Raynal - last week's referee - decides in England's favour to give them the lineout. From there, Francis makes a half-break into the Welsh half, but the ball is knocked on at the next ruck and the chance quickly ends.

Jack de Menezes17 August 2019 14:36

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